Green Macaroni Cheese

This is Greens mac 'n' cheese from Jamie Oliver.

Ingredients

• 1 large leek
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 400g broccoli
• 40g unsalted butter
• 1/2 a bunch of fresh thyme (15g)
• 2 tbsp plain flour
• 1 litre semi-skimmed milk
• 450g dried macaroni
• 30g Parmesan cheese
• 150g mature Cheddar cheese
• 100g baby spinach
• 50g flaked almonds

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180℃ / gas mark 4.
2. Cut the broccoli into florets and set aside, trim and finely slice the stalk. Clean and slice the leek and garlic. Melt the butter in a large frying pan and fry the vegetables with the thyme for 15 minutes, stirring regularly.
3. Stir in the flour, slowly add the milk and simmer for 10 minutes until thickened.
4. Meanwhile, cook the macaroni in a large pan of salted water for 5 minutes.
5. Grate the parmesan and most of the cheddar and mix into the sauce.
6. Blend the sauce and spinach in a blender until smooth, season with salt and pepper and mix with the macaroni and broccoli florets.
7. Tip into a baking dish and top with the remaining cheese and the almonds. Bake for 30 minutes.